Featured IPO CD Artist: Huxley Rittman & The Rusty Hitmen

IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Stay With Me”

It’s our best standalone song. It’s energetic, to the point, and a fun lil’ guitar solo if I do say so myself.

2) If you could play your dream gig, which other three to four artists would be on the bill with you? They can be living, defunct, or dead.

The event would start on time with an astoundingly large and remarkably punctual audience begging to be entertained. Hux & the Hitmen would take the stage, sating the crowd’s longing for loud and melodic goodness. A 40 minute set would bring joy, tears, passion and love, and as we take our final bows, the opening riff to Fountains of Wayne’s “Bright Future In Sales” would play over the crowd’s uproar, as they begin their unexpected reunion set. When everybody has had their fill of nostalgic hits, powerpoppery and heart-yankers, the sun begins to set as the miraculously-living Allman Brothers Band (Fillmore-era lineup) warms up to play, and when they play, the crowd doesn’t even know what they’re experiencing. In a smokey and musical stupor, they sit back, they dance, they make love, as the band plays for what seems like forever. 3, 4 hours? Who knows? But when they finish their 28 minute long “Whipping Post” finale, only the hardcores are left. And that’s okay, the fans saw what they wanted, the Allman Brothers are beyond needing crowd affirmation, and with the final act yet to play, it’s for the best that only the craziest crazies remain. The final act is Wormrot, a Singaporean grindcore band who tickles the deepest darkest glands of the audience’s now-collective consciousness. Brains explode. Amps explode. Blood is drunk. Goats are sacrificed. By the end, everybody is dead.

3) Which artists are you/your band most inspired by?

Fountains of Wayne, Blur, Weezer, and cheese-free classic rock.

4) What is your favorite part about playing IPO and/or being on the IPO CD?

It’s a very warm community. The IPO creates an atmosphere wherein self-indulgent musicianship, arrogance and inattentiveness all seem to be at record lows. It’s great.

5) How can people who fall in love with your song on the IPO CD get more of your music and find out about any gigs you’re playing?

Hell yeah! Best place to do that right now is our facebook page, facebook.com/huxleyrittmanmusic.
Searching for our band name on youtube, spotify, or iTunes will also lead you to plenty of content.

Featured IPO CD Artist: Jimmy Haber

IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Chelsea”

1) What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?

I chose the track “Chelsea” off of my first album, to joyously announce the news that my 2013 New Bondi Hippies CD has been licensed by Markadean Records and re-released as a 12″ vinyl record this summer. “Chelsea” was chosen to emphasize that I really DO hang out in the sunshine sonically!! My last couple of tracks with you, kind sir, have been awfully broody, but hopefully effective. “Chelsea” is the new lead off track on side two, it moved up a spot, from the original CD order. One of the many differences between CDs and vinyl I’m told is that at some point on vinyl, around the middle, you need to grab the listeners attention again! “Potboiler”, George Martin called it. “Chelsea” does that, and with a baritone bass, 6/4 measures and farfisa organ…..there was no room left for a sitar and symphony orchestra. Bummer.

2) Which artists are you/your band most inspired by?

With no doubts in my mind, I find myself drawn to the realism of Ray Davies. Lyrically, he can paint a picture of course, but to layer the emotion with a certain musical phrase that adds a depth to the emotion? Brilliant. Lyrically he might be painting a bleak picture, but the sound of a lone clarinet makes you feel hope, without having to say it. It’s so born in the forties, war torn England. Eternally hopeful. I’m not going to NOT say Lennon/ McCartney btw, but I’m drawn to Paul’s song writing and style more than John’s, but my favorite Beatles songs are John’s. It’s complicated. My favorite Beatle is George too.

3) What is your favorite part about playing IPO and/or being on the IPO CD?

A sense of belonging to a community. That’s really all there is at the end, isn’t it? I feel isolated, and have felt that way forever. I have met some incredible people because of my dealings with the IPO scene. You have created something good for a lot of souls, David.

4) What’s going on musically with you in 2017?

I have been recording my third album this summer, (Blue Palms) and it’s shaping up to be between 12 and 15 songs. I’m taking my time on this, very ambitious and different, but everyone says that, don’t they? Idiosyncratic is the phrase I’d use. I’m not trying to fit in anywhere anymore. If I’m doing a classic power pop sounding tune, that’s great, but I’m not into creating a song that has to sonically fit into a set of rules that WE created, not the Beatles or the Raspberries or The Knack. WE created the Box. There is an ever shrinking land of power pop that we have mined to death and have created huge monuments in. It’s time to find the best of what has happened over the past 25 years and incorporate it into this genre that we love. We need a fucking smack in the face. I personally, can’t wait to hear the next big thing, but deep down we all hope it’ll be us, no matter how young or old we are.

5) How can people who fall in love with your song on the IPO CD get more of your music and find out about any gigs you’re playing?

Featured IPO CD Artist: The Belmondos

IPO Vol 20 CD Song: “Have You Got Someone”

1. What was the reason you chose the song you did for the IPO CD?

We think “Have You Got Someone” is a good choice because this song is totally in the spirit of the IPO compilation: backing vocals, sixties guitars, nervous beat inspired by The Action’s style.
We hope you will enjoy this song.

2. If you could play your dream gig, which other three to four artists would be on the bill with you? They can be living, defunct, or dead.

The Belmondos would like to open for The Beatles (of course!), Hank Williams, Otis Redding, and The Lemon Twigs. Great bill, isn’t it?

3. Which artists are you/your band most inspired by?

It’s hard to name all the bands that influence The Belmondos. These are a few of them : Many ’60s pop bands like The Remains, The Easybeats, The Action, The Byrds….The Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Tame Impala, The Lemon Twigs…

4. What is your favorite part about playing IPO and/or being on the IPO CD?

It was a dream come true to play at the Cavern Club, and the first time The Belmondos played in England. We were proud to share the stage with many great bands from all over the world. We enjoyed every second of the gig. And to be here on the IPO compilation is a meaning for us to fix this moment, like a musical postcard.

5. How can people who fall in love with your song on the IPO CD get more of your music and find out about any gigs you’re playing?

Where to find The Belmondos on the web :
https://thebelmondos.bandcamp.com/
https://m.facebook.com/TheBelmondos/
Video – What Did We Do : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sde1dda0yKM
Vidéo – Firewall : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tB0LhgzPQM
Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/14120328

You can buy our albums Always Rumble and Good Mistakes on Amazon or command them at: thebelmondos@yahoo.fr

Thank you for everything David Bash. And thanks everyone who is touched by our music.
Keep on rocking!